Beauty Tips From An Expert For Woman Over 50

If you’re an over 50 woman, dealing with ever-changing skin care needs and cosmetic challenges…this book is for you.

Toss The Gloss – Beauty Tips, Tricks & Truths FOR WOMEN 50 + by Andrea Q. Robinson, is packed with insider information we really need to know! 

She is a beauty industry legend with 40 years in the industry. As president of Ralph Lauren fragrances, president of Tom Ford Beauty, beauty editor of Vogue, and chief marketing officer of Estee  Lauder, she is the expert with honest answers. She created and launched The Nakeds by Ultima ll for Revlon, which revolutionized the use of neutrals and a natural approach to wearing cosmetics. She’s a believer in Wabi-Sabi, the art of imperfection and making the best of what you have.

Last summer I checked it out the library and almost immediately realized I’d made a tactical error. There was so much valuable information in it… I needed to own it, so I bought a copy.

www.awellstyledlife.com
The number of bookmarks told me I needed to OWN this book!

 

 

She cautions that we can’t trust the tricky wording on product advertisements. “Clinical studies prove or show…” Bunk. Carefully worded and not the scientific proof we think we’re getting. Magazines also do not provide “unbiased advice”. Their editor picks and recommendations are not unbiased.

The mega cosmetic companies behind department store brands also manufacture drug store brands. So why pay more? We like to think we’re getting a more luxurious, higher quality product at the department stores but Andrea assures us the trickle down from high-priced lines,  happens almost overnight! There’s no reason to pay more for the same product you can buy at the drugstore!

Some highlights of her advice:

  • Beware of trends
  • Don’t try too hard
  • Let go of perfection
  • High maintenance has to go
  • No harsh lines
  • Don’t break the bank
  • Dress well when cosmetic shopping. You’ll get more and better attention.

 

Beauty Tips From An Expert for Women Over 50

Face Primer

  • is like Spanx for the face. It can be drying so use a moisturizing one. This not to be missed step, ensures your foundation or tinted moisturizer goes on smoothly.

Foundation

  • is the “perfect white T-shirt of makeup”  it’s best to shop for one with a clean face. Avoid matte or powder foundation as these look caked on an older complexion.

     Some laws of foundation:

  1. Brightening incandescence is the goal
  2. Look for a foundation that is luminizing
  3. You want dewy, so use a moisturizing formula
  4. You’re looking for radiance and glow, not shine
  5. If your skin is clear opt for a Tinted Moisturizer

Highlighter

  • is your friend. Creams are the easiest to control. We want one with low-shine. They’re meant to highlight, not shine like a headlight. Look for one with low shimmer. Avoid pearly white. The highlighter must be at least 2 shades lighter than your foundation and not obviously visible. It should gleam.

Blush

  • ditch the powder. Cream is the only way to go after 50. It gets applied to the apples of your checks. Then dab and pat highlighter across the top of your cheekbone and under the arch of your eyebrow.

Liner

  • never use a liquid liner which looks hard and emphasizes lines. Andrea recommends soft pencils that don’t tug our delicate eye skin

Lips

  • Toss the gloss! Go for a creamy shine… not frost. Look for neutral and skip the beige which flatters no one. No matte lipstick, which looks dry and is aging

 

 

This book is packed with information and many other truths we need to know,  so I highly recommend you read her book.

Other tidbits:

  • Your foundation and concealer should be the same color. Unlike the old advice of concealer being one shade lighter, which frankly gave the reverse raccoon look to my eyes:)
  • Dab a little highlighter to the skin above the sides of your mouth and outer corner of  your eyes for an upward ILLUSION. It works!

~~~

At the end of the book, Andrea tells us honestly, that she’s had a face lift. And wow, it’s a terrific one! She looks fabulous.

I discussed here my belief that women have the right to choose whether plastic surgery is right for them. It’s a personal choice. Having a face lift,  in no way diminishes the wisdom and valuable information she shares…unlike some other reviews have suggested.

“Forget about makeup reclaiming your youth. Good makeup reclaims you!” ~ Andrea Q. Robinson

 

 

29 Comments

  1. Love the book! I use Laura Mercier’s Caviar stick in brown on my Waterline. Thus you don’t see a line arong your eyes and it’s ever so much more natural.Then a light-colored eye shadow to line my lower lid. Gives a much softer look.

  2. Beauty tips from a woman over seventy.
    Eat healthily
    Live gently and with joy
    Laugh with friends and family
    Don’t necessarily do as you’re told!
    Life’s short, eat chocolate.

  3. This book looks really interesting. There are always new tips to be found
    Laurie x

  4. Jennifer loved this review. I have to look for this book. I know Andrea Robinson and have saved many things she has written including a cute one about her home. She knows her stuff. I loved the Nakeds too. There are great tips here and I agree more women need to be dewy vs dry. I still have a hard time with cream blush, but I love primers, luminzers and all that.. Thanks for sharing this Jen. Love to hear what you use too!
    xo Kim

    1. Thanks Kim! This was the first book of hers I’ve read. She’s a real talent.
      xoxo

  5. I haven’t read the book but was wondering if YOU could recommend a good creamy blush for 64 year old me that doesn’t break the bank! Would love any other “drugstore” faves of yours including make-up and skin care…You have beautiful skin!

    1. Thanks Janie! I will email you some of my favorites. I’m trying a new cream blush out myself this week, so I’ll let you know how I like it.

    1. At 58 I need to be even MORE prepared:). I’m glad you liked it. It’s a great book!!

  6. So many great tips and they are spot on Jennifer, This sounds like a terrific book!

    xoxo
    Karena
    The Arts by Karena

    1. You’d enjoy it. You always recommend so many great books, it’s fun to refer you to one:)
      xx

  7. Sounds a fabulous book, Jennifer…I’ll be purchasing 😉
    Have a great week and thank you for popping by, love hearing from you. xx

    1. I’m so glad your amazing cashmere wraps are back in your shop! Now I just need to settle On a color!’

  8. You did a wonderful job of highlighting some of Andrea’s best tips here, Jen. How perfect to read this as I get ready to hit the makeup drawer before my workday. I’ve never been into high maintenance make up routines. I do find that words like luminize, incandescence and glow all appeal to me at this stage in life. The last thing I want is a sahara dry look (or feel). I discovered facial oils, Caudalie and Luxe, in Paris several years ago, and they have been a great addition to my skincare and make up routines. Excellent post, Jen! I’m off to share it.
    Happy Monday!
    xx, Heather

    1. I do love facial oils too. They’re not oily, just soak right in. I haven’t tried the Caudalie…will look into it now.
      Happy Tuesday!
      xx

  9. I remember The Nakeds, I loved that range.
    Yes, I think I might have to give up eye liner altogether, it makes my eyes look really piggy now and just emphasises the droop.

    1. I’m finding a thin, soft smudge looks better than a real line. Try it.

  10. Jennifer, I love your writings!

    I am going to the bookstore tomorrow and getting this book!

    1. You’ll really enjoy it Sally! Have a notebook and pen nearby to jot down notes and product recommendations.

  11. I liked this book as well. Good plain advice. While I would never choose plastic surgery I do agree it is a personal choice, but I prefer a face that looks lived in. 🙂

    1. I’m glad someone agrees with me about it being a personal choice! Women are so critical of each other, I simply find it sad. Have you tried the humidifier yet??

      1. Bought one yesterday and it is plugging away here in my office with me while I write! I am looking forward to dewy skin! Thanks for the suggestion (not sure why I didn’t think of that myself!)

        Oh and meant to say – I recently tried Drew Barrymore’s makeup and it is so cheap and quite good, which was a surprise! I like the idea that one needs to judge the product on its merits, not its marketing!

      2. It’s helped me a lot! Let me know how it helps. I’m thinking I should write a post detailing how I cmare for my aging skin.

  12. Lynn McClain says:

    I bought the book and was so enthusiastic about the tips. I didn’t read chapter 12, at first, because I’m not interested in cosmetic “tweaks” of any sort – I’ve never even had a facial and I’m in my 70’s. When I did read it the book was diminished completely for me. I think the face lift should have been announced in chapter one. Apparently good makeup by itself was unable to reclaim the author’s “youth.”

    1. I don’t feel her decision to have a facelift, in any way diminishes her expertise and inside knowledge of the industry. As an industry veteran, she knows what she’s talking about and shares truths about products and techniques from an unbiased position. I wouldn’t throw the baby out with the bath water on this one. It’s full of great tips and useable information.
      Her comment actually said, “Forget about reclaiming your youth…”

  13. Thanks for the tips. I tried cream blush and it melted right off my face.

    bisous
    Suzanne

    1. You must be one of the lucky ones without Sahara dry skin. The book has a lot of valuable info.

  14. You are right, Jennifer…this is one book to own. Great information and affordable ideas and products. I have learned a lot from this book and I am not finished yet.

    1. It’s so great to have unbiased advice. I really learned a lot too.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *